We investigated the etching characteristics of YMnO$_3$ thin films in high-density plasma etching system. In this study, YMnO$_3$ thin films were etched with CF$_4$/Ar gas chemistries in inductively coupled plasma(ICP). Etch rates of YMnO$_3$ increased up to 20% CF$_4$ in CF$_4$/(CF$_4$+Ar), but decreased with furthermore increasing CF$_4$ in CF$_4$/(CF$_4$+Ar). In optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analysis, F radical and Ar* ions in plasma at various gas chemistries decreased with increasing CF$_4$ content. Chemical states of YMnO$_3$ films exposed in plasma were investigated with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). There is a chemical reaction between metal (Y, Mn) and F and metal-fluorides were removed effectively by Ar ion sputtering. YF$_{x}$, MnF$_{x}$ such as YF, YF$_2$, YF$_3$ and MnF$_3$ were detected using SIMS analysis. The etch slope is about 65$^{circ}$ and cleasn surface. surface of the etched YMnO$_3$ thin films was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The etch profile was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).EM).