A drive circuit for driving a voltage-driven-type element including a gate terminal, an emitter terminal and a collector terminal includes a first semiconductor switch including an output terminal disposed between a power source for the drive circuit and the gate terminal, a first resistor disposed between the output terminal and the gate terminal and a capacitive element connected in parallel with the first semiconductor switch. The capacitive element supplies an external electric charge from the power source to a portion between the gate terminal and the emitter terminal after an internal electric charge accumulated in the portion between the gate terminal and the emitter terminal is supplied to a portion between the gate terminal and the collector terminal.