Core Viewpoint - The controversy surrounding New Oriental's chairman Yu Minhong's trip to Antarctica has sparked discussions about employee sentiment and company culture, highlighting the disparity between leadership and staff experiences during challenging times [8][16]. Group 1: Trip Details - Yu Minhong clarified that the cost of the Antarctic trip varies significantly, with prices ranging from 500,000 to 3 million yuan, depending on the ship and cabin type, and that he and his colleague traveled on the advanced icebreaker "Xia Gu" for 200,000 to 250,000 yuan for 12 days [1][10]. - The "Xia Gu" cruise offers various itineraries, with the lowest price for a 13-day trip starting at approximately 260,000 yuan per person, while a 29-day trip can cost up to 1.48 million yuan [13]. Group 2: Employee Sentiment and Company Culture - The internal communication sent by Yu Minhong on the company's 32nd anniversary did not resonate well with employees, leading to complaints and highlighting a disconnect between leadership and staff experiences [8][16]. - New Oriental is characterized by a relatively relaxed internal atmosphere, allowing employees to express grievances openly, which contrasts with the perception of a strict corporate environment [16]. Group 3: Business Strategy Implications - The trip may have strategic significance for New Oriental's emerging cultural tourism business, which has seen an 85% revenue growth in the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year, indicating a potential focus on expanding this sector [16].