There is provided an alternating current (AC) driven light emitting device including a plurality of LED arrays connected in series, each having a structure in which a plurality of LEDs are electrically connected to form a two-terminal circuit and emit light by a bidirectional voltage when an AC voltage is applied to the two-terminal circuit; and a switching device connected to at least one of the plurality of LED arrays and controlling a total driving voltage with respect to the plurality of LED arrays. The AC driven light emitting device permits operation from a low driving voltage Vf while having a high driving voltage at a high voltage Vf, thereby achieving excellence in terms of power factor, THD, and energy efficiency.