New Oriental Education Group Chairman Yu Minhong issued a statement on December 6, addressing the surge of public attention surrounding both the “Antarctica incident” and an internal open letter written by employees. He noted that these topics have repeatedly pushed his name and the company onto trending lists, and some friends even worried that the employee who wrote the letter might face retaliation. Yu firmly dismissed such concerns, assuring the public that all employees are working as usual in their respective roles. He emphasized that the issues raised in the letter are being taken seriously, and he has instructed the relevant departments to conduct a thorough investigation, listen carefully to employee concerns, and immediately correct any verified problems.
On December 4, earlier reports revealed that a course consultant from New Oriental’s Hangzhou office had posted a lengthy message in an internal company group. According to screenshots, the letter detailed concerns over excessive overtime, unrealistic performance targets, and cumbersome job responsibilities. The employee also referenced Yu Minhong’s recent email sent from Antarctica, expressing gratitude for his message encouraging openness, candid feedback, and freedom of expression—sentiments that gave the employee the courage to speak up about current challenges.
Yu Minhong had recently faced public scrutiny after sharing an all-staff letter while traveling in Antarctica. In the November 23 message titled “Let Us Work Hard Together,” he apologized to employees and explained the context and intention behind writing the email during his trip. He stated that as long as employees choose to stay with New Oriental, they share the responsibility of supporting the company’s development and reputation. When encountering unfair treatment or difficulties, he encouraged staff to use internal channels first. While the company welcomes open criticism, he reminded employees to be cautious with extreme remarks made on public platforms, noting that the company’s stability is essential for ensuring a secure and supportive work environment for everyone.
