A light emitting device capable of feeding a reverse current to the failed structural part of a light emitting element, e.g. an organic EL element, without using the power supply voltage as a reverse bias. The light emitting device comprises a capacitive light emitting element, e.g. an organic EL element, emitting light upon application of a DC forward voltage. A reverse current can be fed to thelight emitting element through a low-resistance failed structural part only by connecting both electrodes of the organic EL element with the earth after stopping application of the DC forward voltageusing a push-pull circuit (5) thereby discharging residual charges of the light emitting element.