There is provided a light emitting device (1) with a protective circuit unit. The protection circuit unit has a layer (14) with low resistance and a potential barrier layer (16), wherein there exists at the interface between these two a barrier potential. The protection circuit unit is electrically connected to the light emitting device. When an electrostatic discharge or an excessive forward current occurs in the latter, the protection circuit unit for rectifying function ensures to prevent damage to the light emitting device that could be caused to it by static electricity or an excessively high forward current.