A light-emitting semiconductor device (100) suitable for use in multi-color flat panel displays includes a sapphire substrate (1), an AlN buffer layer (2), a silicon (Si) doped GaN n.sup.+ -layer (3) of high carrier (n-type) concentration, a Si-doped (Al.sub.x2 Ga.sub.1 -x.sub.2).sub.y2 In.sub.1-2 N n.sup.+ -layer (4) of high carrier (n-type) concentration, a zinc (Zn) and Si-doped p-type (Al.sub.x1 Ga.sub.1-x1).sub.y1 In.sub.1-y1 N emission layer (5), and a Mg-doped (Al.sub.x2 Ga.sub.1-x2).sub.y2 In.sub.1-y2 N p-layer (6). The AlN layer (2) has a 500 .ANG. thickness. The GaN n.sup.+ -layer (3) is about a 2.0 .mu.m thick and has a 2.times.10.sup.18 /cm.sup.3 electron concentration. The n.sup.+ -layer (4) is about a 2.0 .mu.m in thickness and has a 2.times.10.sup.18 /cm.sup.3 electron concentration. The emission layer (5) is about 0.5 .mu.m thick. The p-layer 6 is about 1.0 .mu.m thick and has a 2.times.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 hole concentration. Nickel electrodes (7, 8) are connected to the p-layer (6) and n.sup.+ -layer (4), respectively. A groove (9) electrically insulates the electrodes (7, 8). Green light emission is obtained by this constitution. Further, only doping Zn of 5.times.10.sup.19 /cm.sup.3 into the emission layer (5) enables red light emission.