Core Viewpoint - The recent controversy surrounding Yu Minhong's trip to Antarctica highlights the company's culture of encouraging employee feedback and the potential strategic alignment of this trip with New Oriental's emerging cultural tourism business [1][4][7]. Group 1: Employee Engagement and Company Culture - Yu Minhong emphasized that allowing employees to express dissatisfaction is a tradition at New Oriental, indicating a commitment to addressing internal issues [1]. - In response to employee complaints about his trip, he stated that dissatisfaction reflects a problem between the employee and the company that should be corrected [1]. Group 2: Antarctica Trip Details - Yu Minhong clarified that the cost of the Antarctica trip varies significantly, ranging from 50,000 to 300,000 yuan, with his own trip costing between 200,000 and 250,000 yuan [1]. - He plans to take around 10 outstanding employees and members of Dongfang Zhenxuan to Antarctica next winter, supported by the company [1]. Group 3: Cultural Tourism Business Development - New Oriental's cultural tourism business, which began testing in 2023, is seen as a potential growth area, aiming to integrate educational services with high-end travel experiences [7]. - The company plans to launch several mature travel routes and training camps by 2025, positioning this initiative as a third potential public listing for New Oriental [7]. Group 4: Employee Benefits and Membership - As part of the 32nd anniversary celebration, New Oriental offered a 199 yuan membership card to employees, providing various discounts on products from Dongfang Zhenxuan [8][10].

Core Viewpoint - The controversy surrounding New Oriental's chairman Yu Minhong's email to employees during his trip to Antarctica has sparked discussions about employee sentiment and company culture [1][4]. Group 1: Employee Communication and Company Culture - Yu Minhong emphasized the tradition of allowing employees to voice their grievances, stating that if employees are dissatisfied, it reflects issues within the company that need to be addressed [1]. - The internal email referenced the resilience of penguins in extreme conditions as a metaphor for the unity and hope of New Oriental employees facing challenges, but many employees expressed a lack of empathy towards this analogy [4]. - A notable observation was made regarding the frequency of personal references in the email, with 17 mentions of "I" and 5 mentions of "Antarctica," while employee work pressures were not addressed [4]. Group 2: Company Initiatives and Employee Benefits - Following the controversy, Yu Minhong announced plans to take around 10 outstanding grassroots employees and 10 excellent members of Dongfang Zhenxuan to Antarctica next winter, supported by the company [1]. - New Oriental plans to establish a dedicated youth exploration center aimed at promoting natural education for children, with potential Antarctic exploration trips for teenagers expected to commence next winter [4]. - As part of the company's 32nd anniversary celebration, a membership card was issued to employees, which offers discounts on Dongfang Zhenxuan products, although some employees perceived the card's value as low due to its requirement for purchases [6].

Core Points - The chairman of New Oriental, Yu Minhong, has sparked controversy after sharing videos of his trip to Antarctica on social media shortly after sending an internal letter to employees, which did not resonate well with them [1][15] - Yu Minhong's trip involved a luxury cruise, the "Le Commandant Charcot," which is a polar exploration ship with a capacity of 245 passengers and a price range of approximately 260,000 to 1,480,000 yuan per person depending on the itinerary [5][8][12] Group 1: Trip Details - Yu Minhong traveled on the "Le Commandant Charcot," a ship designed for polar exploration, which can navigate extreme regions like the North and South Poles [11][12] - The cruise from Paris lasts 20 days, costing around 300,000 yuan per person, and the ship only operates every two years, with the next available trip not until 2027 [5][8] - Different itineraries are available, including a 13-day trip priced between 260,000 and 430,000 yuan per person, and a 29-day trip costing around 1,480,000 yuan for the only available suite [8][12] Group 2: Company Response and Initiatives - On November 16, coinciding with New Oriental's 32nd anniversary, Yu Minhong sent an internal letter thanking employees, which was met with mixed reactions as employees felt disconnected from his vacation [15][18] - In response to the backlash, Yu Minhong stated that the trip was an opportunity to discuss future natural education initiatives for children, including the establishment of a youth exploration center [15][18] - New Oriental plans to launch specialized Antarctic exploration trips for teenagers in the upcoming winter [15]

Core 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].

Core Points - The chairman of New Oriental, Yu Minhong, sparked controversy after sending an internal letter from Antarctica and posting multiple travel videos on social media [1][15] - The internal letter celebrated the 32nd anniversary of New Oriental and outlined future goals for the company, including becoming a "sower of hope" and promoting natural education for children [12][15] Group 1: Travel Details - Yu Minhong traveled on the "Le Commandant Charcot," a polar exploration cruise ship capable of navigating icy waters, with a journey cost of approximately 300,000 yuan per person for a 20-day trip [3][9] - The cruise offers various itineraries, including a 13-day trip priced between 260,000 yuan and 430,000 yuan per person, and a 29-day trip costing around 1.48 million yuan for a luxury suite [6][9] Group 2: Company Initiatives - In his social media posts, Yu Minhong mentioned plans to establish a youth exploration center aimed at fostering children's understanding and appreciation of nature [15][20] - The company is expected to launch specialized Antarctic exploration trips for teenagers in the upcoming winter [15] Group 3: Employee Engagement - New Oriental's 32nd anniversary included the distribution of a membership card valued at 199 yuan as a benefit for employees, which offers discounts on company products [19][23] - The membership card is part of the company's internal welfare program and is set to be distributed to employees by the end of the month [19][23]

Core Points - The chairman of New Oriental, Yu Minhong, sparked controversy after sharing videos of his trip to Antarctica on social media shortly after sending an internal letter to employees from the location [1][16] - The trip was made on a luxury cruise ship named "Le Commandant Charcot," which offers various itineraries to Antarctica, with prices ranging from approximately 260,000 to 1,480,000 yuan per person [4][7][10] Group 1 - Yu Minhong's internal letter, themed "Perseverance in the Ice and Snow," reflected on the company's journey and future aspirations, aiming for New Oriental to become a "sower of hope" [13] - The cruise ship "Le Commandant Charcot" is the world's first liquefied natural gas-powered polar exploration vessel, capable of breaking ice and designed to accommodate 245 passengers [10][12] - The trip costs around 300,000 yuan per person for a 20-day journey, with limited availability for future bookings [4][7] Group 2 - Following the internal letter, there was a lack of resonance among employees, with some expressing difficulty in empathizing with their boss while he was on vacation [16] - Yu Minhong later posted videos discussing the importance of nature education for children, announcing plans for a youth exploration center [16][21] - The company also introduced a special membership card as a benefit for employees, valued at 199 yuan, which offers discounts on products [20][25]