A method of method of protecting a gate driver circuit configured to provide a gate line of a display panel with a gate signal includes generating a clock signal to drive the gate driver circuit, sensing an output current of the clock signal, detecting an overcurrent of the clock signal based on an overcurrent determining factor, determining whether the clock signal is in an overcurrent condition based on a count number of the overcurrent, generating a shutdown signal when the clock signal is in the overcurrent condition and blocking the clock signal from being applied to the gate driver circuit based on the shutdown signal.