It is an object of the present invention to provide a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device that is excellent in light output efficiency and needs only a low driving voltage (Vf). The inventive gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer formed of a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor and stacked in this order on a substrate, and positive and negative electrodes so arranged as to be in contact with the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer, respectively, wherein a region in which a p-type impurity and hydrogen atoms are co-present exists in the p-type semiconductor layer in contact with the positive electrode, and at least a portion, which is in contact with the p-type semiconductor layer, of the positive electrode, is formed of an n-type electro-conductive light transmitting material.