Stainless steels are widely selected as commercial engineering materials mainly because of their excellent corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and strength. Because the manufacturing temperature of stainless steels is relatively high, the chemical and physical properties of the oxide film which was formed on the stainless steels are of importance in determining the rate of oxidation and the life of equipment exposed to high temperature oxidizing environments. In this study, the oxidation behavior of S. S. 304 and S. S. 430 added by a small amount of oxygen active elements(each +0.5wt% Hf and Y) was studied to improve oxidation resistance. The results of cyclic and isothermal oxidation on S. S. 304 added by OAE showed relatively poor oxidation resistance due to spallations and cracks of $Cr_2O_3$ layer. But all S. S. 430+0.5wt% OAE maintained constant oxidation rates and stable oxide layers at high temperature environment. Especially S. S. 430+0.5wt% Y formed a $Cr_2O_3$ oxide layer and improved cyclic oxidation resistance preventing loss of protective layers about 1000 hours at $1000^{circ}C$