The secondary electron emission (SEE) properties of Zn-doped MgO thin films (similar to 700 nm thickness) grown via electron-beam evaporation have been studied based on Paschen curve measurements. The Zn-doped (1 at.%) MgO film shows an improved SEE coefficient (gamma) compared to that of non-doped MgO from 0.02 to 0.05 in the 100 V Pa-1 m(-1) region. The origin of a superior gamma is due to the reduction in the band-gap from 6.79 eV to 6.26 eV (the values are measured via ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy; UPS) because gamma is normally determined by the Auger neutralization process, which uses the neutralization energy of ion valence band electron emission. This thin film can be used in new kinds of plasma devices, such as flat-fluorescent lamps, plasma displays, electron emitters, and ionized mass spectrometers.