Provided are a nitride-based light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The nitride-based light emitting device has a structure in which at least an n-cladding layer, an active layer, and a p-cladding layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. The light emitting device further includes an ohmic contact layer composed of a zinc (Zn)-containing oxide containing a p-type dopant formed on the p-cladding layer. The method of manufacturing the nitride-based light emitting device includes forming an ohmic contact layer composed of Zn-containing oxide containing a p-type dopant on the p-cladding layer, the ohmic contact layer being made and annealing the resultant structure. The nitride-based light emitting device and manufacturing method provide excellent I–V characteristics by improving ohmic contact with a p-cladding layer while significantly enhancing light emission efficiency of the device due to high light transmittance of a transparent electrode.