Qibla · Gyeongsangbuk-do
Qibla direction in Gumi
To face the Kaaba in Gumi, turn to 286.8° measured clockwise from true north, which is west (16.8° north of west). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 8,497 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Gumi should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Gumi as a needle at 286.8°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 287°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Gumi
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards west and move a further 16.8° towards north: the result is the bearing of 286.8°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at west would leave you about 17° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Gumi, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
This is a place where maps mislead badly: a straight line on a flat map from Gumi to Mecca points to 259.2° (west), a full 27.6° away from the true Qibla of 286.8° (west). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 246 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Gumi first heads west, and that is the direction to face.
The value of 286.8° is the direction in which the shortest route from 36.1136° N, 128.3360° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Gumi to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 8,497 km from Gumi as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 8,329 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 10 h 30 min, although most pilgrims from Gumi connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Gumi run 6 hours ahead of Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Gumi rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Gumi
On 98 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Gumi while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in July (31 days); for example, on 15 May 2027 it happens at 18:33 local time.
On 244 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in March (31 days), for instance on 1 March 2027 at 07:49.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | — |
| 1 February 2027 | — | — |
| 15 February 2027 | — | — |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 07:49 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 08:13 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 08:41 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 09:03 |
| 1 May 2027 | — | 09:28 |
| 15 May 2027 | 18:33 | 09:49 |
| 1 June 2027 | 18:14 | 10:11 |
| 15 June 2027 | 18:09 | 10:22 |
| 1 July 2027 | 18:13 | 10:24 |
| 15 July 2027 | 18:26 | 10:16 |
| 1 August 2027 | 18:48 | 09:56 |
| 15 August 2027 | — | 09:32 |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 08:57 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 08:26 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 07:50 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 07:20 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | — |
| 15 November 2027 | — | — |
| 1 December 2027 | — | — |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Gumi: at 18:18 and 18:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Gumi compared with other cities
Compared with Seoul, 202 km away, the Qibla in Gumi is turned 1.1° further clockwise (286.8° against 285.7°), and Mecca is 161 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Gimcheon (19 km), prays towards 286.7°, a difference of 0.1°.
Across the 47 cities in South Korea on this site, the Qibla ranges from 285.6° in Incheon to 287.4° in Gijang, a spread of 1.9°. The difference is small, yet each city should still use its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for South Korea.
Qibla in cities near Gumi
Qibla in Gumi: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Gumi?
It is 286.8° from true north, which is west: 16.8° north of west.
How far is Gumi from Mecca?
8,497 km in a straight line over the globe, and 8,329 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Gumi?
On 98 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Why is the Qibla in Gumi not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 259.2°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Gumi at 286.8°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 286.8° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.