Ma Guangyuan on Yu Minhong’s Antarctic Letter to Staff: “Well-written—calm, balanced, and free from online pandering”

On November 23, economist Ma Guangyuan posted several comments on Weibo regarding New Oriental founder Yu Minhong’s letter to employees sent during his trip to Antarctica.

Ma expressed full support for Yu, saying that the letter was “well written—balanced and composed, without catering to online emotional waves.”
He noted that many media outlets labeled the letter as “another apology,” but in his view, the primary purpose was clarification rather than an actual apology. He also pointed out that Yu did not agree with claims suggesting a confrontation between employers and employees.

Ma later reposted a related article from The Paper titled “Yu Minhong Issues Another Internal Apology Letter,” adding, “For Yu, going to Antarctica is as easy as going to Sanya. There’s nothing for him to show off, but some people will always interpret it that way.”

Previously, Ma wrote an article titled “Yu Minhong Is Not Wrong at Antarctica, Nor Are the Employees—It’s the Era’s Narrative That Has Changed.”
He explained that Yu’s visit to Antarctica coincided with the company’s 32nd anniversary and that Yu genuinely wished to continue leading his team forward. The cost of the trip is manageable for him, and it was, in essence, a work trip.

Ma added that the controversy largely stems from storytelling. “Had the letter described the challenges of Antarctica, insights about the company’s future, or ideas about improving employee welfare, it might not have triggered such tension. Yu is not wrong, and neither are the employees—the narrative of the times has simply shifted.”