第一财经·2025-11-19 12:58Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the controversy surrounding New Oriental's chairman, Yu Minhong, who faced backlash for his recent trip to Antarctica while addressing employees through an internal letter, raising questions about empathy and corporate culture [3][17]. Group 1: Yu Minhong's Antarctica Trip - Yu Minhong shared multiple videos from his Antarctica trip on social media, stating that he had limited signal during the trip and that the videos were made four days prior [3][20]. - He traveled on the "Le Commandant Charcot," a luxury polar exploration cruise ship, which offers various itineraries, with prices ranging from approximately 260,000 yuan to 1,480,000 yuan per person [5][8][12]. - The ship is notable for being the world's first liquefied natural gas-powered polar exploration vessel, capable of breaking ice and designed to accommodate 245 passengers [12][13]. Group 2: Employee Reactions and Company Initiatives - Following the internal letter sent on New Oriental's 32nd anniversary, some employees expressed their inability to empathize with the chairman's situation, leading to discussions on social media [17][21]. - In response to the controversy, Yu Minhong mentioned plans for New Oriental to establish a youth exploration center aimed at fostering children's understanding and appreciation of nature, with potential Antarctic exploration trips planned for the following winter [20][21]. - The company also announced a special employee benefit in the form of a 199 yuan membership card, which offers discounts on products but requires employees to make purchases to utilize the benefits [21][24].